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Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

This vocal music pair sparked significant debate when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. The chant was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first interview since the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, these are the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Feedback

The musician said he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the chant, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated editorial guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic events reported two days.

"I believe I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Bands

When he said he felt the band had been targeted more severely than others for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with everything ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are already the enemy."